SWEET Baboo will be performing the first free gig of 2013 at Sherman Cymru in Cardiff.

SWEET Baboo will be performing the first free gig of 2013 at Sherman Cymru in Cardiff.

He will be joined by Threatmantics for the performance on January 31.

Sweet Baboo, aka Stephen Black, is originally from North Wales but now lives in Cardiff, His performance is an acoustic mix of soulful bliss and humour.

He has performed at various festivals over the last few years, including Latitude Festival, Green Man Festival, SXSW (South By South West) in Texas and The Camden Crawl, as well as touring Germany with Johnny Flynn and the UK with Islet and Slow Club.

He has also been invited to record sessions for BBC 6 Music’s Marc Riley, Huw Stephens and Stuart Maconie.

Sweet Baboo’s song How I’d Live My Life (AKA The Bumblebee Song) was chosen to soundtrack a series of TV adverts for the Visit Wales tourist board campaign.

As well as performing as a solo artist, Black has played on albums by Cate Le Bon, Slow Club and H. Hawkline, and has been a regular part of the touring line-up for all three bands.

He has also performed with and produced Euros Childs, The Pictish Trail, The Voluntary Butler Scheme, Islet and Spencer McGarry Season and collaborated onstage and in the studio with Gruff Rhys.

Supporting Sweet Baboo is another Welsh act, Threatmantics, who attempt to crowbar as much into rock ‘n’ roll as possible, veering wildly from folk to rock to metal to good-time pop.

Threatmantics released their debut Upbeat Love on Double Six in 2008 and their new album, Kid McCoy, was released nationwide in December on Folkwit records.

The free gigs have proved to be a popular strand at Sherman Cymru. No tickets are needed for entry to the performances and there’s no need to book ahead.

Audiences are just invited to turn up on the night and enjoy the music.

Sweet Baboo and Threatmantics will be performing a free gig at Sherman Cymru on January 31 from 8pm. For details, call 029 2064 6900 or visit www.shermancymru.co.uk